Talking General Practice

This week Emma speaks to Dr Iain Morrison, chair of the BMA Scotland GP committee Scotland, about the critical challenges facing general practice in Scotland.

In this conversation Iain explains some of the challenges general practice in Scotland is facing as a result of problems with the 2018 GP contract, the impact of underfunding, and the growing crisis in the GP job market.

He explains what needs to happen to address these issues and the prospect of GPs in Scotland taking industrial action in the coming year unless the government takes steps to increase funding – and discusses why GP practices should adopt the BMA safe working guidance.

This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links

BMA safe workload guidance for GPs in Scotland

'Devastated' practices lay off staff after five-figure premises cost hike - GPonline story about the premises problems facing practices in Lothian

GP practices in Scotland promised £10.5m to boost capacity

Scottish GPs call for national fix to help IMG doctors secure visas

Two thirds of Scottish GPs ready to disrupt services through industrial action

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This week Emma and Nick look at the GP contract deal for England for 2025/26.

They discuss what exactly is in the deal and what it means for GP practices in the year ahead, in particular what it could mean for practice finances and whether changes to the additional roles reimbursement scheme will address the GP jobs crisis.

They also talk about what happens now with collective action and the BMA’s push for more significant contract reform in the coming years.

This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links

• Read all of our GP contract coverage here
• What's in the GP contract for 2025/26?
• Early-career GPs spell out how a new contract can secure their future
• What does the pause in collective action really mean for GPs?

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This week Emma speaks to Dr John Ford and GP Dr Liam Loftus from the Health Equity Evidence Centre at Queen Mary University in London about health inequalities and how frontline clinicians, system leaders and policymakers can make evidence-based decisions to tackle inequality in healthcare.

John and Liam discuss how the Health Equity Evidence Centre is making the evidence on what works when it comes to addressing health inequalities more accessible.

The centre uses machine learning to analyse the vast amount of research and literature that’s available and the team at the centre turns that information into actionable insights for GPs, other frontline clinicians, healthcare managers and policymakers.

John and Liam explain how this all works in practice, the resources they have available and how this can help GPs, practices and primary care networks in their day to day work. They also talk about projects they are currently working on, including how GP funding inequalities can be addressed, and how they hope to establish a solid evidence base for what works when it comes to tackling health inequalities.

This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links

Health Equity Evidence Centre

Outdated GP funding formula leaves practices in deprived areas with 10% less funding

Talking General Practice episode with Dr Becks Fisher from the Nuffield Trust on - How can we make GP funding fairer?

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This week the team talks about the GP jobs’ crisis after the BMA held a virtual rally last week to help the union shape its plans for how to address the job shortage facing salaried and locum GPs. They also explain the findings from GPonline’s own survey of locum GPs that shows the impact this has had on rates of pay and the finances and wellbeing of those doctors affected.

And they discuss GP premises following a report published last week by the NHS Confederation that suggested NHS Property Services, which owns a significant number of GP premises, should be scrapped.

Our good news story this week is about practices in the north West which have received extra funding to help them develop research hubs.

This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, deputy editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Kimberley Hackett. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links

BMA reveals 'vital' GP contract priorities that could solve jobs crisis

Most locum GPs struggling to find work as jobs crisis devastates income

Registrars delaying GP qualification because they can’t find jobs, says LMC

New GPs are being 'muscled out' of the NHS, warns registrars leader

Government should abolish NHSPS and pay off GP service charges, report suggests

GP practices share nearly £1m fund to expand research hubs

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This week Emma speaks to GP and researcher Dr Rebecca Payne about what general practice can learn from the research she’s been involved with on remote patient care.

In this conversation Rebecca talks about her research into patient safety in remote consultations, what GPs can do to ensure remote consultations are safe and lessons for practices about the systems that they need to have in place. She also talks about the wider implications of this research including what it means for training and education.

Rebecca also explains her research into how the shift to remote care has impacted on quality in primary care, what this could mean for the future of general practice - and what she hopes policymakers will take from the findings.

This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links

Patient safety in remote primary care encounters: multimethod qualitative study combining Safety I and Safety II analysis, published in BMJ Quality and Safety

Teaching patient safety in remote consultations

Project resources from the Remote by Default study including competencies for staff and advice for patients

How to ensure safe remote consultations in your practice - from GPonline

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In this week’s episode the GPonline team discusses the future of the Targeted Enhanced Recruitment Scheme (TERS) – an initiative to attract GPs to underdoctored parts of England – amid fears it could be scrapped.  

They also look at what we know about the current GP contract negotiations in England and what could happen at next month's special LMCs conference, which now looks set to be a referendum on the deal for 2025/26.

Plus, they talk about NHS England's planning guidance for the year ahead and what it had to say about general practice. Our good news story this week is about the contract deal that has been struck for general practice in Wales.

This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links

Scheme to boost GP recruitment in underdoctored areas could be cut from April

Special conference could push for industrial action or mass resignation threat

GP anxiety 'rife' as partnerships face 2025/26 contract crunch

GP access among priorities in 'reset year' for NHS as officials hint at new targets

'Complacent' health officials lack ideas to save NHS, MPs warn

GPs in Wales accept improved £52m contract boost for 2024/25

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This week Emma speaks to Ruth Rankine, director of primary care at the NHS Confederation, about how to create a neighbourhood NHS and the role general practice will play.

A key plank of the government’s plans is a move towards a neighbourhood NHS with more care provided outside hospital and in the community, but what does this mean in practice? ICBs are already working to set up integrated neighbourhood teams, but as yet there is no clear definition of what these teams should look like.

In this conversation Ruth explains how this work is going, how the NHS will need to change if it is going to deliver more services in primary care, and the importance of allowing local areas the flexibility to redesign care in a way that meets the needs of their population.

She also talks about how the GP contract may need to change in future to deliver this vision, the important role primary care networks have to play and the opportunities to create new pathways involving GPs with extended roles.

This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links

GP contract and funding reform key steps towards 'neighbourhood NHS'

NHS Confederation Primary Care Network

NHS Confederation report - The case for neighbourhood health and care

What do GPs want from the 10-year NHS plan?

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The government is aiming to create 1,000 new GP jobs through the additional roles reimbursement scheme (ARRS), but are they on track to hit this target before the end of March? Nick and Emma discuss what we know about how the scheme is going.

They also talk about a report from the Nuffield Trust, which shows how the ARRS more widely has changed the make-up of the workforce in general practice and argues that the introduction of new roles to the NHS has not been backed by enough planning and support - particularly on issues such as training, regulation and supervision.

And they discuss some of the problems the CQC is facing and how this is potentially impacting on GP practices.

Our good news story is about a change in RCGP policy for exam resits for GP registrars who are disabled.

This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, deputy editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Kimberley Hackett. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links

Some PCNs yet to claim any ARRS GP funding, NHS England admits

GPs outnumbered almost 3:1 after 'stark' reshaping of workforce through ARRS

Long waits for CQC reports 'risk damaging GP practices'

GPs entitled to follow advice on PAs that could lead to redundancies, says BMA

Take part in our GP locum rates survey here https://surveys.haymarket.com/s3/Locum-rates-survey-2025

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If you do locum GP work complete our annual survey on GP locum rates here - https://surveys.haymarket.com/s3/Locum-rates-survey-2025 - you will be entered into a prize draw to win £250 of John Lewis vouchers.

Is the NHS making best use of the locum GP workforce and how is the current crisis in the GP jobs market affecting locum GPs?

This week Dr Richard Fieldhouse, chair of the National Association of Sessional GPs (NASGP), speaks to Emma about all things related to locum GPs. 

Around a third of GPs in England are not currently working in substantive posts in GP practices and many of these doctors will be working as locums. 

Richard set up the NASGP in 1998 to provide support to locum GPs and lobby policymakers on issues specific to locums. In this interview he explains how the current jobs market is affecting locum GPs and the rates they are receiving for work, what the NHS could do to make better use of locums and the value locums bring to general practice.

He also talks about why being a locum is still a good career choice and offers some advice for GPs starting out as locums and for practices on how they can get the best from their locum GPs.

This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links

• National Association of Sessional GPs
• GP job shortage forces locums to cut fees and take on private work
• How to create a GP portfolio career
• Manchester University research Richard mentions in the podcast
• Becoming a GP locum: Setting your rates
• Becoming a GP locum: Setting your terms
• Becoming a GP locum: Invoicing and expenses

If you do locum GP work complete our annual survey on GP locum rates here - https://surveys.haymarket.com/s3/Locum-rates-survey-2025 – you will be entered into a prize draw to win £250 of John Lewis vouchers.

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Just before Christmas the government announced an £889m funding uplift for the GP contract in 2025/26 - Nick and Emma discuss whether that funding is enough to stabilise practices and what the government will be asking for in the next contract.

They also talk about the government and NHS England’s elective reform plan, which was unveiled this week and sets out steps to hit the 18-week referral to treatment target by the end of this parliament. The plan includes a number of measures involving GPs and primary care, so what does it all mean for general practice?

Our good news story this week highlights those GPs recognised in the new year honours.

This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links

What do we know about the 2025/26 GP contract?

Is £889m the lifeline practices need to keep them afloat?

Two-tier' job risk as practice nurses join ARRS

GPs to be paid £20 per request in £80m advice and guidance plan

Understaffed GP practices 'not ready' to take on more work from hospitals

GPs recognised in 2025 New Year Honours

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